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Decius Caecilius Vindex; professional gladiator
(c) copyright 2000 Volker Bach
Total Points: 165 Points
Age 26; 5'9"; 158 pounds; a dark-skinned, dark-haired,
well-muscled Syrian with a torso covered in scars.
ST 12 [20] - thrust 1d-1, swing 1d+2, fatigue 14
DX 13 [30] - basic speed 6.5, move 8*, dodge 7** (8
vs. thrusts)
parry
(shortsword) 7**, parry (spear) 8**, parry (boxing) 10**
block
(buckler) 8**
IQ 10 [-] - senses 13
HT 13 [30]
WL 10 [-] - fright check 12
*includes Running bonus
**all active defences include +1 for Combat
Reflexes
ADVANTAGES: Alertness +3 [15]; Combat Reflexes
[15]; Extra Fatigue +2 [6]; Fit [5];
Reputation +2 (as great fighter, to all urban Romans)
[10]; Wealth (Wealthy) [20].
DISADVANTAGES: Glory Hound [-15]; Lecherousness
[-15]; Social Stigma (Freedman Gladiator)
[-10].
QUIRKS: Uses a 'lucky' trident; Goes barechested often to
show off his scars; Never drinks wine; Trademark hairstyle;
Affects a strong Syrian accent. [-5]
SKILLS: Area Knowledge (Rome)-11 [2]; Boxing-14
[4]; Buckler-14 [2]; Fast Draw (Knife)-14*
[1]; First Aid/TL2-10 [1]; Knife-15
[4]; Net-14 [8]; Performance (Fight)-9/15
[2]; Riding (Horse)-13 [2]; Running-12
[2]; Savoir-Faire (Arena)-11 [2]; Sex
Appeal-13 [2]; Shield-14 [2]; Shortsword-13
[2]; Spear-15 [8]; Spear Throwing-14
[2]; Teaching-10 [2]; Wrestling-14
[4].
*includes +1 for Combat Reflexes
LANGUAGES: Latin (native)-10 [0].
MANOEUVERS: Close Combat (Knife)-15 [1]; Feint
(Net)-16 [2]; Hit Location (Spear)-15
[4].
EQUIPMENT
Vindex does not normally carry weapons outside the arena. In
civilian life, he dresses flamboyantly, and wears expensive
jewelry. On great occasions, he might clip his wooden
/rudis/ (practise sword, treat as baton, 1d+2 cr) to his
belt.
In the arena, Vindex's preferred gear is the panoply of the
/retiarius/: /galerus/ armor* (PD 3, DR 4 to arms only*),
/fuxina/ (trident, 1d imp, multiple attacks allowable**),
/iaculum/ (small net, as p.B51), buckler (PD 1) and knife.
This will put him at an encumbrance level of None, making
full use of his superb agility. He is also trained to fight
as a javelineer and swordsman, but will do so only when
threatened with very large sums. He generally dislikes heavy
armor.
*see p.CII46 for more
**see p.CII32 for more
BIOGRAPHY
Decius Caecilius Vindex was born to a Syrian slave-woman and
her Greek common-law husband and exposed soon after birth.
Picked up by slave trader and initially brought up to be a
servant, he was spotted for his potential at age 9 by the
experienced eye of /lanista/ Decius Caecilius Syphax; he was
taught to be a gladiator. Noted for his agility and quick
reflexes, the boy was subjected to a gruelling training
regimen and placed in the arena at age 17 under the name of
Vindex. It has been uphill ever since.
Vindex proved to be a good investment. Fighting as a
/retiarius/ he quickly gained renown for his speed, agility
and showmanship. Normally a losing proposition, he made
running rings around heavily armored opponents look almost
easy. The boy thrived on applause and adulation and has been
enjoying the star cult that built around his person
immensely. Of simple tastes, he was happy to bask in the
reverence of his supporters and bed his female admirers.
This lifestyle has become almost a necessity to him.
Since winning his freedom only a year ago, Vindex has taken
on the name of his former owner and trainer. He continues to
fight, but does so more rarely than in the early stages of
his career and only for large purses. His record - which
arena aficionados can recite backwards and forwards -
includes 28 victories, 5 pardons, and 8 'standing
dismissals'. With this kind of capital to their name, other
gladiators would think of retirement, but Vindex doesn't
seem to be quite ready. His trainer grooms him for a
comfortable job as /lanista/, but is beginning to doubt
whether his shooting star will ever be able to leave behind
the glory and applause.
ENCOUNTERED
Decius Caecilius Vindex is a thoroughly unpleasant person to
meet privately. Hogging center stage, making passes at every
woman he meets and flaunting his wealth and skill, he can
get on the nerves of the most patient of PCs. Out in the
sands of the arena he is a consummate showman, and he can
turn on the animal magnetism of the fighter on cue, which is
an impressive thing to see (though it is his only trick).
CANONICALITY
Decius Caecilius Vindex is entirely canonical, except for
disregarding the -2 DX-penalty that p.CII32 and p.IR42
impose on the trident - for allegedly being too tip-heavy -
as recent research indicates this is not justified. His
Maneuvers are taken from "Compendium 1" only; GMs running a
full-blown Martial Arts campaign should flesh him out some
more (see below).
WHAT IF?
There's not much point converting Vindex into anything. He's
good, but obnoxious and vain, and he's about as Roman as any
character design can get.
Cinematic/Martial Arts: In a combat-based cinematic
campaign, Vindex should be boosted to higher Attributes and
Skill levels to be a challenge to high-octane PCs. Cinematic
Skills like Flying Leap, Blind Fighting and Power Blow
(Spear) would also be appropriate.
ADVENTURE SEEDS
Vindex is a stereotypical 'successful gladiator' and can be
used in any number of roles, from an opponent for gladiator
PCs to a potential employer to an obnoxious chance encounter
in bad company.
Wicked Barbs: The city is abuzz. Rumor has it that Vindex
won his last fight against up-and-coming Corinthus only by
dipping the points of his trident in a paralysing poison.
Supporters of both fighters are coming to blows in the
streets and the question of a rematch next year - or indeed
the outcome being overturned - is bandied about among the
game organisers. Pretty much everybody should have an
interest in sorting out this mess, and from whatever angle
the PCs enter the fray they should suffer from no lack of
excitement.
...and a House by the Lakeshore: Vindex is pushing 27, and
that's old for a gladiator. Decius Caecilius Syphax, his
trainer, has been trying for a long time to talk him into
retirement. He's close to giving up, but maybe hiring a
bunch of persuasive oddballs could be the way to go?
Convincing Vindex that it's time to hang up the net might be
the toughest task they ever faced.
- written by Volker Bach
(volker_bach@public.uni-hamburg.de)
- formatted and editted by andi jones
(andi@angelwerks.com)
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